Eagles schedule preview: WASTEAM are bad

The last time the Eagles opened the season against the Redskins, they won the Super Bowl. Will history repeat itself?

When and where: Week 1 in Philadelphia, Week 15 in Washington Landover

Last season: 7-9. Offense: Scoring 29th, Yards 28th, DVOA 29th; Defense: Scoring 15th, Yards 17th, DVOA 20th

Notable additions: Landon Collins, Ereck Flowers

Notable losses: Zach Brown, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Jamison Crowder, Preston Smith

What are they good at?

Defense, but that’s relative. They have some nice players, and Ryan Kerrigan has always given the Eagles problems (interesting side note: Kerrigan has played 16 games against each of the Eagles, Cowboys, and Giants, and has 11.5 sacks against all of them. That’s consistency.). But this is a unit that finished 20th in DVOA last season and not only hasn’t gotten appreciably better but has already lost Reuben Foster to injury.

What are they bad at?

They have probably the worst group of pass catchers in the league; their top running back is 34; and their QBs are Case Keenum, who they acquired via Randstad, and Dwayne Haskins, who probably needs some development before he’s ready to play and who won’t get it considering he has nobody to throw to. It’s possible neither has Trent Williams blocking for them, as he is holding out.

Why the Eagles will win

The Eagles have won four straight against the Redskins, and except for most of one half—2017 MNF, and even then the Eagles led at halftime—the Eagles have had no problem handling them. And this year’s version of Washington Football Team is decidedly worse than those editions.

This is probably a bottom five team in the NFL. Jay Gruden is in the final year of his contract, enjoy him while he lasts.

Why the Eagles will lose

Insurmountable injuries, or they play in a monsoon and final score is 3-0 because the Redskins kicked field goal on their first possession before three feet of rain dropped. Sometimes weird things happen in divisional games, but the Redskins have no advantage over the Eagles that they can exploit for a win. It’s going to take something out of the ordinary for the Redskins to win.